Shaw Organisation is best known as a major player in the Asian film industry since the 1920s, being involved in the ...

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Runme Shaw (Tan Sri) (Dr) (b. 1901, China–d. 2 March 1985, Singapore) was a pioneer in the film and entertainment industry in Singapore and Malaysia.1 He founded Shaw Brothers with his brother, Run Run Shaw.2 Besides being a film magnate, Runme was also a well-known philanthropist. In addition, Shaw served in many organisations including the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board (presently known as Singapore Tourism Board) and the Singapore Turf Club.3

Early lifeRunme Shaw was the third son of a well-to-do family with seven children. As a child, Runme went to school in Shanghai where he studied Confucian classics and classical Chinese literature.4 Their father, Shaw Yuh Hsuen, was a textile merchant with his own import-export company, and owned an opera hall.5

When films began to be screened in China, Runje, one of Runme’s brothers, established the movie company, Tian Yi Film Company (or Unique Film Productions), and started producing silent films. Runme, who was then working in his father’s trading company, joined Runje’s company as the sales manager. Seeing Southeast Asia as a potential market to distribute the films made by his brother’s company, Runme decided to venture there. Initially he wanted to ply his trade in Indo-China,6 but he ended up in Singapore after his entry to Indo-China was denied.7

PrewarRunme arrived in Singapore in 1925. He found it difficult to distribute Tian Yi’s films as he was being locked out of the business by the dominant local dialect groups – the Cantonese, Hokkiens and Teochews – who monopolised the market and preferred to do business with their own community rather than with Runme. Nonetheless, he pressed on and together with his brother, Run Run, who joined him in 1926, the Shaw brothers were able to secure the use of an old theatre in Tanjong Pagar, the Empire, in 1927. They paid $2,000 per month to screen Tian Yi’s films at the Empire8 – a wooden building with hard benches and a screen made of a piece of white cloth.9 It screened two evening shows daily and tickets were sold at either 50 cents or 75 cents depending on the location of the seats. The movies screened at the Empire were silent films, but musicians were hired to accompany the action for dramatic effect.10

After establishing a footing in Singapore, Runme and Run Run began consolidating their film distribution business when they incorporated Hai Hsin Film Company, which first appeared in the Directory of Malaya in 1933 but later liquidated in 1941, and Shaw Brothers Limited in 1928.11 To distribute the films produced or acquired by Shaw Brothers, Runme ventured into Malaya, travelling to small towns and major cities including Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Ipoh. He also rented theatres and set up travelling shows there to screen his films.12

Although the Great Depression in the early 1930s made a dent in the Shaws’ income,13 they recovered sufficiently to take over more movie theatres including the Alhambra and Marlborough on Beach Road. By the end of the 1930s, a chain of 139 cinemas in Southeast Asia were under the Shaws.14 Their business also diversified into other areas such as amusement parks. When reflecting on his success in the local film business, Runme attributed his success to luck and the ability to identify the genres of movies that appealed to the public.15

Japanese Occupation (1942–45)Runme continued to screen movies in his theatres even when the Japanese began bombing Singapore in December 1941. He stopped and went into hiding after finding out the Japanese were searching for him after the fall of Singapore in February 1942. Runme recalled that he hid in a shop on Selegie Road but was eventually captured. It turned out that the Japanese wanted him to produce and distribute propaganda films for them. Runme accepted the request and was paid $350 in Japanese military yen each month.16

Postwar years and beyondThe postwar period was boom time for the film industry.17 Using the gold, jewellery and cash they had stashed away, the Shaws upgraded their cinemas.18 In 1946, they purchased Capitol Theatre for $3 million, which thereafter became Shaw’s flagship cinema.19 Three years later, Shaw opened Rex, a new cinema located at the junction of Bukit Timah and Selegie roads, followed by Lido on Orchard Road in 1959.20

As the profits of the Shaw Brothers multiplied, the company expanded its business. It set up film studios in Hong Kong and cemented its position in the entertainment scene by adding to their portfolio another 150 cinemas and six amusement parks in Malaya and Singapore.21 It also diversified into new areas such as commercial and residential property developments.22

In addition, Runme served as chairman of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board (STPB) from March 1969 to October 1976.23 During this period, he revamped its operations by increasing its capital input and staff headcount. He also opened tourist offices abroad in countries such as Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and United States to promote Singapore as a destination. Besides STPB, Runme took on leadership roles in organisations including the Turf Club as chairman and St John’s Ambulance as president.24

Philanthropy and awardsBesides his success in the film industry, Runme was also a well-known philanthropist.25 In 1957, he set up the Shaw Foundation as a charity organisation.26 Since then, the foundation has channelled millions of dollars into hospitals, schools and charities in Singapore and Malaysia.27 Runme also headed or served as the patron of charitable organisations such as the Medical Progress Fund, St John’s Council, National Kidney Foundation, Singapore Association for Mental Health, Singapore National Heart Association, Society for Aid to the Paralysed, and Metropolitan YMCA. In 1948, Runme started the annual tradition of giving red packets (hongbao) to elderly people in old folks’ homes during the Chinese New Year.28

DeathIn September 1982, Runme was admitted to hospital after a fall at his home in Queen Astrid Park.29 After undergoing two brain surgeries, he remained in a state of coma before passing away due to a stroke on 2 March 1985.30

The information in this article is valid as at 2016and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.